Tekken: Dark Resurrection (PSP) Review

Tekken's been around for some time now. It debuted long ago on the PlayStation (about ten years, actually) and now it's become something of a phenomenon with its worldwide tournaments, new releases that continue to entice players, and the promise of Tekken 6 on the horizon. And now the PSP gets a taste of brawling heaven with Tekken: Dark Resurrection, a game that easily beats out Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX as the best fighting game for the system.

That's a hard thing to say when you consider that the PSP isn't built for fighting games. Its D-pad configuration is questionable, and makes some moves come across as almost impossible to pull off. However, Namco seems to have less struggle with this than Capcom did, as Tekken: Dark Resurrection seems to have the whole control thing featured out. Thanks to the nature of the gameplay, you can pull off most moves with ease, like tap-tap combos, throws, and some power moves. There are a few that take some adjustment and time to really pull off, like King's spinning throw, but otherwise, I found very little fault here with it. A few pro players out there might find some issues that hinders their style a little bit (Bryan Dawson shall be providing "hardcore" feedback soon), what with combo-building and the control scheme in the PS2 port of Tekken 5, but I found myself linking 5+ hits in no time.

The presentation is outstanding, and makes fine use of the PSP without wearing it down. The graphic presentation, for the most part, is faithful to the arcade upgrade, complete with 60-frames-per-second speed (except for the cut scenes, which are bumped down to 30 and still look great), detailed backdrops, solid animation, and quick loading time. There are a few slight annoyances that come up, such as shadow effect (where a shadow shows a slight blur on the character) and the occasional graphic jaggy. Other than that, the game looks glorious.

As for sound, you have background music that is very faithful to the series, as well as sound effects that add a little impact to your punch and little quotes here and there to try and add personality to the characters. This is probably the area where the least amount of improvements come into play, but, hey, there wasn't anything wrong in this department before, aside from some screechy voicework here and there. Pop on your headphones and indulge.

So we've got gameplay that manages to hold up (for the most part) in the conversion, and a presentation that fits on the PSP rather well. What other extras does Tekken: Dark Resurrection hold for its many fans? Plenty. Like Tekken 5 before it, this edition has extras that will keep players smacking around for hours. The first thing that's worth mentioning is Ghost Mode, which is bound to be a popular feature in future fighting games to come. You basically record your fighting performance and then upload it via online servers, where others can gain access and see how they compare. Likewise, you can challenge other players and see how well you hold up (or get slaughtered). It's kind of awkward at first, but it works great, especially for those stuck without a friend to play. (If you do, however, read on.)

Dojo Mode also deserves a nod. In this mode, players take on various fighters, with a balanced AI that works them over on a progressive scale. This is a big plus for Tekken players, and a nice introduction for rookies that helps them get into the game. It's also the primary mode where you can unlock extra items, movies, and other little goodies to pack into your PSP memory card. I fully recommend jumping in here first, no matter where your Tekken skill may lie.

Multiplayer should be an important factor with this game, and, fortunately, Namco recognizes this. That's why they've thrown in this exceptional option to have two people play with one copy of the game via Game Sharing. A player who doesn't own Resurrection can temporarily download a build from someone who does. Not enough PSP games do this (unlike the DS), so I'm happy to see Namco provide the option. It hiccups from time to time, but the fighting for the most part is faithful and solid. If two players own a copy of the game, they can have it out via AdHoc, and it works just as well.

As for new fighters, the game features two primary additions that players should easily get accustomed to. Dragunov is a slow yet powerful brawler who has some fantastic bone-snapping moves to his credit, and Lili is a quick, combo-built brawler whom many will easily accept as a favorite. A lot of older fighters are here as well, and Heihachi and Armor King both make tremendous returns- although the word "tremendous" might describe the beat-down you're taking from them.

Dark Resurrection also benefits from the inclusion of a couple of mini-games. Sadly, a Tekken Force mode did not make the cut. However, this was made up for with the inclusion of Tekken Bowling, a mini-game that was originally a big hit with the Tekken Tag Tournament PS2 release. In the game, you select your fighter and then head to a bowling lane, where Heihachi-shaped trophies stand in place of the pins. It's great to see this mode again, as it makes for a fun diversion to the fighting action. Gold Rush is also pretty cool, where you collect cash by knocking the crap out of your opponent. It's kind of a variation of Pocket Fighter's gem-collecting chaos, but it's a good time all the same.

Tekken: Dark Resurrection is a damn good game, and, to date, the best brawler for the Sony PSP. I know many fighting fans would still prefer the classic Tekken 5 for PS2, and wonder where their console port of this game is, but it's still a brawler that no dedicated player should be without. The Dojo Mode, Ghost Mode, and Tekken Bowling are worth the price on their own, and the fighting looks and feels just like it always has. Despite being called Dark Resurrection, the game's a bright addition to the PSP line-up. Perhaps we could see Soul Calibur get the same treatment, eh, Namco?